Patriots Chung happy to be back in Foxboro

Wednesday

Jul 30, 2014 at 11:09 PMJul 30, 2014 at 11:14 PM

Safety back after a one-year absence

Steven SanchezGazette Sports Editor

It was like yesterday.Patriots safety Patrick Chung flapping his arms, encouraging fans at Gillette Stadium to open their vocal cords during big defensive stands.Generally, the fans always exceeded Chung’s expectations.Well, he’s back again in New England after a one-year absence, and he couldn’t be happier.“It’s awesome and I’m glad to be back,” Chung said. “Great to see the fans, the city and my boys that I’ve been playing with for years.”Chung was signed by the Patriots as a free agent this year after getting released by the Philadelphia Eagles.The Eagles signed the unrestricted 26-year-old safety in 2013 to a three-year, $10 million deal after four seasons in New England. Chung was originally drafted by the Patriots in the second round (34th overall) in the 2009 NFL draft.Chung endured a difficult first year in Philly and eventually lost his job to rookie Earl Wolff. He never connected with new coach Chip Kelly.But that’s all in the past and Chung is excited for another opportunity with the Patriots.“It’s good to be back,” he said. “As far as being on the field, we’re just working hard right now as a team. It’s getting kind of heated out there and I like it. It’s very competitive and it makes it fun to be out here.”One of Chung’s most exciting moments in New England came on Monday Night Football when he blocked a punt, blocked a field goal and returned an interception for a touchdown in the same game against the Miami Dolphins in 2010.For his four-year career in a Patriot uniform, Chung recorded 235 tackles, three sacks, seven interceptions and 24 special teams tackles.Several years ago, Chung visited the Silver City and read to elementary students at Mulcahey Elementary School.Recently, the Jamaican-born athlete and his wife, Cecilia, launched The Chung Changing Lives foundation to support the personal and academic development of young boys and girls. It provides better access to programs that focuses on healthy and active lifestyles as well as civic participation.The foundation was founded to give more kids equal opportunity.“It’s going good and they are actually singing for the Boston City Council today,” Chung said. “That should be good. The kids are bonding and learning the music.”Music has always played a large role in Chung’s life.His mother — Sophia George (Chung), a Jamaican recording artist — unleashed a hit reggae song, “Girlie Girlie,” that hit the top of the charts in 1985. Chung believes in the positive influence music and the arts have on the lives of children. His foundation recently donated $25,000 dollars to the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center to help found a camp, which allowed teens between the ages of 13 and 18 to develop a passion for music and the arts.“They are actually making relationships and friendship,” Chung said. “It’s going real good and hopefully we’ll keep doing it for years to come.”So far in training camp, Chung has looked pretty comfortable in the safety position.And why not. It’s a position he manned for four seasons.Those who think Chung is washed up, think again.He’s back and serious about the game of football.